A Short Guide to Brexit

Britain votes to leave the European Union. On Friday 24rd June 2016, as many bleary eyed people woke up to start their morning, and people like me checked the results of the vote on social media and mobile apps, they realised that their country had changed forever. 17,410,742 people voted to leave, 51.9% of the electorate, whilst 16,141,241 voted to remain, representing 48.1% of the vote. Unlike general elections where the turnout is relatively low, 72.2% of the UK’s population voted on an issue which was to change the way their economy, democracy and political system would function. For some people this referendum resembled a vote to regain sovereignty and a chance to control immigration, whilst others saw it as a decision that could harm Britain’s economic standing in the world. To call this result the ‘people’s revolt’ or a ‘political earthquake’ would certainly not be an overstatement. Regardless of it being a negative or positive result, this vote represented a deep resentment many people had with the metropolitan elite, who at times ignored their concerns about the free movement of people and the EU’s ever increasing role in British politics. From small British shires, to Labour’s Northern heartlands, ordinary people voiced their opinion about a political project which they felt had not worked in their interest. The problem with the post-Brexit analysis, and even with the referendum campaign on both sides, was the insistence on inundating the electorate with countless facts, figures and expert opinions. X number of businesses will leave their headquarters in London if we vote to leave, or X number of migrants from Turkey or Albania will come to the UK if they join the EU. On many occasions, a deluge of numbers often confuses rather than enlightens. In all this midst of press conferences, expert interviews and political soundbites, the voice and concerns of the ordinary man or woman was simply not heard in enough detail. Experts are important, and it would be harsh to completely dismiss their judgement, however the voices of ordinary citizens must also be projected on an equal level. Our insistence on listening to the experts and the elite, has meant that ordinary people are now expressing their political opinions on other forums and online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and even Snapchat. I even witnessed this myself as I trawled through different social networks after the referendum result, where I saw how a plethora of online arguments and discussions had been initiated alongside online petitions, calling for a second referendum or for certain parts of the country to be made independent following the leave vote. This book is a layman’s guide to the referendum result, analysing and discussing the numerous factors which led to a vote to leave the European Union. It focuses on Britain’s uncertain future outside the EU, looking at the issues the country will face and also the opportunities which await the country after it looks towards the ever-changing world. Exclusive comments by leading political figures, both from the leave and remain side, have been featured, where they express how they see Britain’s economic and political future in the long term.